MEMPHIS — The African American Clergy Collective of Tennessee (ACCT), in partnership with faith-based, community, and civic organizations across Tennessee, announces a Statewide Souls to the Polls initiative on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
Souls to the Polls is a faith-based civic engagement initiative that brings congregations and communities together to strengthen participation in democracy through voter registration, nonpartisan voter education, early voting, election-day turnout, and ongoing civic engagement.
On October 17, congregations and community partners throughout Tennessee will participate in coordinated local activities designed to encourage eligible voters to make their voices heard. Faith leaders and participating organizations will work within their communities to organize gathering locations, provide voter education, coordinate transportation, and help create welcoming opportunities for community members to participate.
In Memphis, four anchor churches have been identified:
One Community. Four Locations. One Goal: Souls to the Polls!
Memphians are encouraged to find the location closest to your home, work, or congregation and join us at noon on October 17!
📍 Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church
70 N. Bellevue Blvd., Memphis, TN 38104
📍 Riverside Missionary Baptist Church
3590 S. Third St., Memphis, TN 38109
📍 Anointed Temple of Praise (ATOP)
3939 Riverdale Rd., Memphis, TN 38115
📍 Greater Imani Church – The Cathedral of Faith
3824 Austin Peay Hwy., Memphis, TN 38128
“Souls to the Polls is about bringing our faith communities together around the civic responsibility of participation,” said Rev. Dr. J. Lawrence Turner, founder of the African American Clergy Collective of Tennessee ( ACCT). “We are encouraging congregations to educate, prepare, and engage their members and communities in the democratic process.”
The statewide initiative will emphasize intergenerational participation. Seniors and elders can serve as anchors for voter education and community outreach; working adults can assist with transportation and logistics; young adults and college students can support digital outreach and voter reminders; and youth can participate in age-appropriate activities that welcome families and strengthen civic learning. ACCT has a toolkit that encourages congregations to tailor participation to their local communities and needs.
Participating communities may organize Souls to the Polls Day of Unity Rallies, followed by organized travel to designated voting locations. Depending on local circumstances, participants may walk, carpool, or travel in organized and decorated vehicles. Communities may also hold post-voting gatherings or “Poll Parties” to celebrate participation and thank volunteers.
The initiative also encourages congregations to recruit volunteers for a range of roles, including greeters, voter registration assistants, welcome teams, transportation volunteers, sign-in teams, parking attendants, and election-day peacekeepers or poll chaplains.
A Call to Tennessee’s Faith Communities
ACCT is encouraging pastors, congregations, and community partners across Tennessee to begin preparing now by:
- Sharing nonpartisan voter education information with congregations and communities;
- Encouraging eligible community members to register and participate;
- Identifying local rally or gathering locations;
- Coordinating transportation and accessibility needs;
- Recruiting volunteers for Souls to the Polls activities;
- Engaging people of all generations in appropriate civic participation; and
- Continuing civic engagement beyond October 17.
The initiative is designed to be locally led. Each pastor, faith leader, congregation, and leadership team can determine how Souls to the Polls fits their church and community context.
“Democracy is strengthened when people are informed, engaged, and able to participate,” said Shirley Bondon, ACCT’s Executive Director. “We invite churches and community organizations throughout Tennessee to join us on October 17 and make Souls to the Polls a statewide expression of civic engagement.”
Please register, start planning now, and invite other individuals and organizations to join. https://bit.ly/4zVouj9
